Java Traditional Medicine: February 2007

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease, characterized by sudden recurring attacks of labored breathing, chest constriction, and coughing.

Hydrotherapy :

Warm compress on the chest, twice a day.
Whiff the vapour, twice a day.
Conduct a breathing practice for 10-15 minutes when the asthmatic attack is absent, 4 times a day.

Breathing Practice :

Sit on a chair in a relaxing position, use pillow to support your back. Inhale through your nose. Constrict your lips, as if you are going to blow something into a straw. Exhale twice longer than your inhale. Prolong your exhalling time gradually.
Back to your normal breathing before you began the above mentionad breathing practice again. This can be done in the morning, afternoon, and night before you sleep. This may also be done when your breathing pace become close, as you do an exercise or other activities.

Herbal Medication :

1. Tamarind Tree Bark (Tamarindus indica, L)
* Chop and boil a slice of the tree bark in 3 glasses of water for 10 minutes.
* Dosage :
Adults : 1 bowl after meal and before sleep.
Children : 1/2 bowl, 4 times a day (after meal and before sleep).
Infant : 2 serving spoons, 4 times a day (after meal and before sleep).

2. Leaves and flowers of Bayam Duri (Amaranthus Spinous, L)
* Boil 5 upper stem of bayam duri chopped together with its flower and leaves in 5 glasses of water for 10 minutes.
* Dosage :
Adults : 1 bowl 4, times a day.
Children : 1/2 bowl, 4 times a day.
Infant : 2 serving spoons, 4 times a day.

Note : This treatment is especially effective in expelling excessive sputum.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

A condition when the body temperature increased abnormally higher.

Hydrotherapy :

Take a bath and rub to clean the body. Wipe the body using warm damp towel for feverish symptoms with cold sensation on the soles and palms. Wipe the body using warm damp towel for feverish symptoms with hot sensation on the skin. Wipe the body using warm damp towel three times a day, if necessary.
Take a rest on bed, cold compress on the forehead see non-stop cold compressing procedures.
Submerged the feet in warm water. If the fever is caused by congestion or influenza, submerged the feet in warm water in the morning and night, after dinner.
Drink a glass of water or fruity juice every hour during awake.

Herbal Medication for Virus - Infected Fever :

1. Vinegar
* Pour 2 serving spoons of vinegar into a washbasin containing cold water, instead of ice.

2. The leaves of Star Fruit Tree (Averrhoa bilimbi, L)
* Boil 2 bowls of chopped leaves of chopped leaves of star fruit tree in 2 liters of water for 10 minutes. Strain and let it become colder for 2 hours.
* Use this to make a cold compress, instead of ice.

3. Leaves of Small Sour Carambola (Hedychium coronarium, L)
* Boil 3 bowls of chopped fresh leave4s in 4 liters of water for 15 minutes, and then strain them.
* Use this boiled water to wipe the body (cold or warm).

Medication for Internal Diseases :

Apply any one of the following herbal medications to alleviate the feverish symptoms :

1. Okra Seeds (Abel moschus esculentus, L)
* Fry without oil the dry Okra seeds, then pound them finely. Boil 1/2 bowl of finely pound dry Okra seeds in 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes. Let it cold and refined.
* Dosage :
Adults : 1 bowl, 3 times a day after meal.
Children : (Infant) 1 serving spoon, 3 times a day after meal.
(2-6 years old) 1/4 bowl, 3 times a day after meal.
(7-12 years old) 1/2 bowl, 3 times a day after meal.

2. Shrub Leaves (Vitex trifolia, L)
* Boil 4 serving spoons of chooped dry leaves or 6 serving spoons of chopped fresh leaves in 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes.
* Dosage :
Adults : 1 bowl, every 4 hours.
Children : (Infant) 1 serving spoon, every 4 hours.
(2-6 years old) 1/4 bowl, every 4 hours.
(7-12 years old) 1/2 bowl, every 4 hours.

< DIARRHEA

A condition of gastrointestinal distress or disorder, indicated with excessive and frequent evacuation of watery feces.

How to control :

Stop eating and drinking for 4 hours, whenever possible. You may drink fizzy drinking (soda drink), as food substitution every 30 minutes. Drink it in small amount, but frequently.
For infants : substitute milk with porridge water or sari Sembung as food. Avoid any solid food and other liquid, except porridge water or sari Sembung.
If the diarrhea becomes uncontrollable during a day, contact the nearest doctor or physician.

Herbal Medication :

1. Citronella Leaves (Andropogon nardus)
* Boil 10 young leaves of citronella in 2 glasses of water for 10 minutes. Add 1 serving spoon of sugar and a piece of crushed ginger.
* Dosage :
Adult : 1 bowl, 3 times a day and each time after defecate.
Children : (Infant) 1 serving spoon, 3 times a day and each tim e after defecate.
(2-6 years old) 1/4 bowl, 3 times a day and each time after defecate.
(7-12 years old) 1/2 bowl, 3 times a day and each time after defecate.

2. Coarse Grass Root (Imperata cylindrica)
* Boil 5 stems of chopped fresh roots in 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes.
* Dosage :
Adults : 1 bowl, 3 times a day and each time after defecate.
Children : (Infant) 1 serving spoon, 3 times a day and each time after defecate.
(2-6 years old) 1/4 bowl, 3 times a day and each time after defecate.
(7-12 years old) 1/2 bowl, 3 times a day and each time after defecate.

< Citronella Leaves

Andropogon Nardus

< Coarse Grass

Imperata Cylindrica

< DIGESTIVE DISORDER

The condition of digestive malfunction, or the failure of stomach to process food.

Suggested treatment to recover the disturbed digestive function :

Four hours fasting.
Drink a glass of warm water every hour during the four hours fasting.
Eat a slice of ripe papaya, 30 minutes after meal.
Eat low-fat snack after the four hours fasting.

Herbal Medication :

1. Kamatsili, Kamunsil Leaves (Pithecolobium duice Benth)
* Boil 1 bowl of kamatsili leaves in 5 glasses of water for 10 minutes. Add 1/2 teaspoon of salt.
* Dosage :
Adults : 2 bowls for the first time, then 1 bowl every 4 hours.
Children : 1 bowl for the first time, then 1/2 bowl every 4 hours.
Infants : 1 serving spoon for the first time, then 1 teaspoon every 4 hours.

< SNAKE BITES

Snake bites can be poisonous and deadly if there is no immediate treatment.

First Aid :

Ease the victim (do not allow to make movement), and block the blood circulation on the bitten area.
Make a section on the bitten area and let the poisoned blood came out.
Wrap a teaspoon of salt in a piece of handkerchief or any fabric, and damp the wrapped salt with water. Compress it on the bitten area after the drain out of poisoned blood.

Herbal Medication :

1. Oleander Leave and Stem (Nerium indicum Mill)
* Pound 10 leaves and stems.
* Patch it on the wound after bleeding.

2. Kamantigui Flower (Impatiens balsamina, L)
* Crush 10 buds of the flower.
* Patch it on the wound after bleeding.

< SWOLLEN GUM and STOMATITIS

Swollen gum and stomatitis are characterized by inflammation of the mucous tissue of the mouth.

Hydrotherapy :

Rinse mouth with warm salty water, 3 times a day before meal.
Massage gum areas with your clean fingers mouth rinse with warm salty water.
Brush your teeth with fine toothbrush, each time after meal.
Drink at least 4 glasses of fruity juice in daytime.
Get a dentist to examine your swollen gum, and a clinician to examine your mouth.

Herbal Medication :

1. Wash mouth with the solution of boiled Guava leaves (Psidium Guajava, L)
* Boil a bowl of chopped fresh guava leaves in 2 glasses of water for 10 minutes. Strain and let it cold.
* Add some salts into the boiled solution, and then use it for mouth wash each time after meal.

2. Rinse mouth using Sawo - Durian (Chrysophyllum cainerto, L) leaves solution
* Boil a bowl of chopped fresh Sawo Durian leaves in 2 glasses of water for 10 minutes.

< ACNE

An inflammantory disease of the sebaceous glands and hair follicles of the skin that is marked by the eruption of pimples or pustules, especially on the face, and also on the chest, and back areas.

Hydrotherapy :

Wash the face with warm water and soft soap 3 times a day.
Steam the face for 15 minutes after washing, once a day.
Don't touch the face with the fingers. Don't crush the acne with the fingers.
Drink more fruity juice and fresh water.
Sleep well, at least 7 - 8 hours a day.
Reduce starchy food, sweets, chocolates, and peanuts. Consume more fruits and vegetables.

Herbal Medication :

1. Ripe Papaya with Citrus juice (Carica papaya and Citrus)
* Blend 3 serving spoons of crushed ripe papaya flesh with 1 serving spoon of citrus juice.
* Spread the blend on the face each time after face washing. Let it adhered for 30 minutes, and then wash the face again using warm water. You may let it adhered on your face overnight, if you can.

2. Aloe Vera leaves (Aloe barbadensis Mill)
* Take a blade of aloe vera leaves and peel the skin.
* Rub the flesh on the face each time after washing with warm water. You may let it adhered on your face overnight, if you can.

< SPRAINED ANKLE or WRIST

Hydrotherapy :

Compress the ankle or wrist using the wrapped ice cubes.
Cold compress the ankle or wrist for 30 minutes, 3 times a day.
Wrap the ankle or wrist using elastic bandage after ice cubes compressing.
Rest the feet and hands for 3 days for excessive swell and pain.
Consult a physician if excessive swell and pain continued.

Herbal Medication :

1. Warm compress with Aloe Vera leaves (Aloe barbadensis Mill)
* Pound 2 or 3 fresh aloe vera leaves.
* Spread the pounded aloe vera on the ankle or wrist as warm compress for 30 minutes, 3 times a day. Use bandage to keep the pounded aloe vera on its place.

2. Warm compress with the stalks and leaves of Kamantigui (Impatiens balsamina, L)
* Pound 2 stalks and leaves of Kamantigui.
* Spread them as warm compress for 30 minutes, 3 times a day. Use bandage to keep the pounded stalks and leaves of Kamantigui on its place.

3. Warm compress with Mayana (Coleus blumei Benth ) leaves
* Pound finely 10 sheets of mayana leaves.
* Spread them as warm compress for 10 minutes, 3 times a day.

4. Warm compress with Cocor Bebek leaves (Kalanchoe pinnata / Kalanchoe mortagei)
* Pound finely 10 sheets of Cocor Bebek leaves.
* Spread them as warm compress for 30 minutes, 3 times a day.

< Cocor Bebek 1

Kalanchoe Mortagei

< Cocor Bebek 2

Kalanchoe Pinnata

< RHEUMATISM or ARTHRITIS

Rheumatism represents any of several pathological conditions of the muscles, tendons, joints, bones, or nerves, characterized by discomfort and disability.

Herbal Medication :

1. Warm compress with Turmeric (Curcuma domestica Valet).
* Chop or pound finely a bar of turmeric and with coconut oil.
* Spread them as warm compress on the painful joints, and let them on their place overnight.

2. Hot compress with the Mango tree calf (Mangifera indica Linn)
* Boil a sheet of chopped mango tree calf.
* Use the boiled solution as hot compress.

3. Compress with Malabulak leaves and their stalks
* Chop the leaves and stalks and then wrap them in a cloth bag. Add 1/2 serving spoon of salt.
* Warm the bag and do the compress using it.

4. Compress with Lumbang Bato leaves
* Heat the leaves.
* Stick them on the joint while hot for 15 minutes, 2 times a day.

5. Poko leaves (Mentha arvensis)
* Boil 4 serving spoons of dry leaves in 2 bowls of water for 15 minutes.
* Dosage :
Adults : drink 1/2 glass, every 4 hours.

< Turmeric

Curcuma Domestica (inzet : rimpang)

< Poko Leaves

Mentha Arvensis

< HEMORRHOID

An itching or painful mass of dilated veins in swollen anal tissue.

Herbal Medication :

Submerge the anal area, twice a day.
Use one of the following medical herbs to make boiled solution for anal area submerging :

a. The Leaves of Small sour Carambola (Hedychium coronarium, L)
* Boil 3 bowls of chopped fresh leaves in 8 liters of water for 10 minutes, and then strain them.
* Use the hot boiled solution for anal area submerging.

b. Blustru Leaves (Luffa cylindrica Linn)
* Rinse and chop 20 leaves and then boil them in 8 liters of water for 10 minutes, and strain them.
* Use the hot boiled solution for anal area submerging.

c. Roots, fruits and seeds of Paria (Momordica charantia, L)
* Wash and chop the roots, fruits and seeds of paria. Squeeze to get the fluid and then add the fluid with coconut oil. Use 1/2 bowl of the chopped roots, fruits and seeds with 2 serving spoons of coconut oil.
* Wet the cotton gauze with mixture and stick it on the swollen anal tissue after anal area submerging.

< Blustru Leaves

Luffa Cylindrica

< Paria

Momordica Charantia

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

ODORS

Unpleasant body odor.

Hydrotherapy :

Take a shower everyday and change with clean shirt, including underwear.
Change cloth each time it got wet by sweat. If possible, take a shower each time you change your cloth.
Drink at least 6 glasses of water in the daytime.
Avoid spiced foods. Eat more fruits and vegetables.

Herbal Medication :

1. A mixture of alum and musky orange
* Take a bar of hard solid alum and crush it. Mix with 1 serving spoon of 1 - 2 musky orange juice.
* Lubricate on armpit area each time after bath as necessary. Use it as deodorant.

2. Deodorant made of betel vine-musky orange (Piper betle, L - Citrus microcarpa Bunge)
* Squeeze to get the liquid of betel vine and mix with musky orange juice.
* Use it as deodorant each time after shower and before sleep.

< Betel Vine

Piper Betle

< Kangkung Leaves

Ipomoea Reptans

< Merungga Leaves

Moringa Oleifera

< CONSTIPATION

Constipation is a state of difficult, incomplete, or infrequent evacuation of dry hardened feces from the bowels.

Hydrotherapy and Other Medications :

Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. Drink 1 or 2 glasses of water immediately after wake up and 1 glass of water before sleep.
Do the enema (drain the intestine) manually, in case of intestine wedged in.
Go to toilet regularly, sit in relaxing position. Do this when the time has come, even if you feel no abdominal force o defecate.
Move your body regularly every day.
Consume green vegetables and fresh fruits.

Herbal Medication :

1. Kangkung leaves (Ipomoea Reptans)
* Consume 2 bowls of boiled kangkung leaves with other food. Make it a part of your menu or diet.

2. Merungga leaves (Moringa Oleifera)
* Consume 1 bowls of boiled merungga leaves with other food.

3. Ripe Papaya (Carica Papaya / Carica Pubescens)
* Consume a big slice of ripe papaya.
* Dosage :
Adults : 1 glass, twice a day.
Children : (2 - 6 years old) 1 serving spoon, twice a day, in the morning and afternoon.
(7 - 12 years old) 1 bowl, twice a day, in the morning and afternoon.

< Ripe Papaya 1

Carica Pubescens

< Ripe Papaya 2

Carica Papaya

< PHARYNGITIS

A state of inflammation of the pharynx.

Hydrotherapy :

Rinse mouth with warm salty water, 3 times a day, before breakfast, lunch, and before sleep.
Hot compress on the throat area before sleep. Keep it on its place until the next morning. Repeat the procedure if the patient stayed at his/her house.
Inhale hot vapor, 2 times a day in the morning before breakfast, and before sleep, after mouth washing with warm salty water.
If possible, don't speak too much until the pharynx recovered.

Herbal Medication :

1. Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe)
* Wash and remove the skin of ginger.
* Chew it slowly for severeal minutes. Swallow the ginger liquid.

2. Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis Mill)
* Take a blade of aloe vera leave and cut it into 1 cm - sized pieces.
* Keep it in your mouth all day long, swallow the liquid. Change with the new pice if the liquid has drained out.

< Ginger

Zingiber Officinale Roscoe (inzet : rimpang)

< Aloe Vera

Aloe Barbadensis Mill

< HEADACHE CAUSED BY SINUSITIS

Inflammation of the sinuses or a sinus, especially in the nasal region.

Herbal Medication :

1. Chrysan leaves (Chrysanthemum indicum, L)
* Crush 5 sheets of fresh chrysan leaves and add 2 drops of coconut oil.
* Spread on the chin for eye holes bone and next to the nasal area. Do this at night before sleep for 30 minutes.

2. Mayana leaves (Coleus blumei Benth)
* Heat 10 fresh mayana leaves above fire. Warm only 4 leaves each time of medication.
* Stick them on the chin for eye holes bone, nasal area and next to nasal area for jaws cavity. Change cold leave with the still warmed ones up to 10 sheets. Do this twice a day.

3. Sembung leaves (Blumea balsamifera)
* Crush 5 sheets of sembung leaves and heat them directly above fire, one for each medication.
* Stick them on the chin for eye holes bone, nasal area and next to nasal area for jaws cavity. Change cold leave with the still warmed ones up to 5 sheets. Do this twice a day.

< Sembung Leaves

Blumea Balsamifera

< BEE STING

Bee sting can be very painful, and the pain might last for several days.

Herbal Medication :

Rub the exposed area with vinegar or citrus to relive the pain.
Rub the exposed area with a damp soap. Don't rinse the soap rubbing trace with water, let it dry.
Rub the exposed area with baking soda for 5 minutes. Repeat each 2 hours to relieve itch and pain.

< SCABIES

A contagious skin disease caused by a parasitic mite (Sarcoptes scabiei) and characterized by intense itching.

Hydrotherapy :

Take a shower everyday and change with clean shirt, including underwear.
Dry bed, pillow, bedcover, mattress, blanket, sleeping suit, in the sun.
Sleep alone to avoid infecting other family members.
Keep clean. Wash hands, feet and face, or take a shower before sleep.

Herbal Medication :

1. Stay submerged in Brotowali (Tinospora crispa) water.
* Cut 1 meter long of brotowali stem and boil in 4 liters of water for 15 minutes. Add water for a wash basin big enough to submerge a child's body.
* For adults, applied or spread the boiled solution to the infected areas of body.

2. Frangipani leaves (Plumeria acuminata)
* Boil a bowl of chopped fresh frangipani leaves and small stem in 1/2 bowl of coconut oil for 5 minutes. Let it colder and pour them into bottle, in order to be available when needed.
* Spread them on the infected body areas after shower.

3. Mango sap (Mangifera indica Linn)
* Mix carefully the sap of mango tree stem or calf with coconut oil.
* Spread them on the infected areas, 2 times a day after shower and at night before sleep.

4. Kakawate leaves (Gliridia sepium (Jacg.) Steud)
* Squeeze kakawate leaves to get the fluid.
* Spread on the infected areas after shower and before sleep.

< Frangipani Leaves

Plumeria Acuminata

< Brotowali

Tinospora Crispa

< CHICKENPOX

Chickenpox is an acute contagious disease, primarily of children. It is caused by the varicellazoster virus and characterized by skin eruptions, slight fever, malaise.

Hydrotherapy :

Damp wipe for fever or cold compress continuously on the forehead to abate the fever.
Take a warm shower or wipe the body with warm water every day. Don't scratch the itchy area.
Consume more fruity juice and water while stay awake.

Caution : If possible, isolate the patient in a special room to prevent the disease from infecting the whole family members.

Herbal Medication :

1. The leaves of star fruit tree (Averrhoa bilimbi,L)
* Crush or chop the young leaves, take the esence fluid.
* Apply the essence on the skin or itchy areas, 3 times a day. Don't rub the essence on the skin.

2. Shrub leaves for fever (Vitex trifolia, L)
* Boil 4 serving spoons of chopped dry leavces or 6 serving spoons of chopped fresh leaves in 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes.
* Dosage :
Adults : 1 bowl, every 4 hours.
Children : (infant) 1 serving spoon, every 4 hours
(2 - 6 years old) 1/4 bowl, every 4 hours
(7 - 12 years old) 1/2 bowl, every 4 hours

< The Leaves of Star Fruit Tree

Averrhoa Bilimbi

< Shrub Leaves

Vitex Trifolia

< ERYTHEMA AND PRICKLY HEAT

Redness of the skin caused by dilatation and congestion of the capillaries, often a sign of inflammation or infection.

Hydrotherapy :

Take a bath with starchy water every day for 3-5 days.
Take a rain bath. Spread starchy powder after bath.

Herbal Medication :

1. Purslane leaves (Portulaca olearacea,L)
* Squeeze to get the fluid.
* Spread on the areas of prickly heat after starchy shower.

2. Seed Guava leaves (Psidium Guajava, L)
* In case of infection, boil 1 bowl of chopped seed guava tree leaves in 4 liters of water. Ad 4 liters cold water.
* Take a bath with this boiled solution.

Monday, February 12, 2007

RINGWORM

Any of a number of contagious skin diseases caused bay several related fungi, characterized by ring-shaped, scaly, itching patches on the skin and generally classified by its location on the body.

Hydrotherapy using boiled herbal solution :

1. Take a bath with boiled guava leaves (Psidium Guajava) solution everyday.
* Boil 10 bowls of chopped fresh guava leaves.
* Take a bath using this boiled solution while it still warm.

2. Take a bath with boiled tobacco leaves solution (in case of infection on scale area).
* Boil 10 sheets of fresh tobacco leaves (Nicotiana tabacum, L) in 2 liters of water for 15 minutes.
* Let it cold and then strain it. Add more water to fulfill a big wash basin after straining. Take a bath with this boiled solution while it still warm.

3. Warm compress with kamatigui flowers (Impatiens balsmanina, L).
* Crush 5-10 kamatigui flowers. The number of flower depends on the size of ringworm. Crush and squeeze the flower to get the fluid.
* Apply them on the infected areas as warm compress for 30 minutes, twice a day.

4. Cloves of garlic (Allium sativum Linn).
* Peel and crush cloves of garlic and rub them to the infected areas until they turn red.
* Do this twice a day : in the morning after bath, and at night before sleep.

5. Scalp and leaves of Oleander (Nerlum indicum Mill).
* Crush +- 30 cm of oleander stem. Mix with 1 bowl of fresh young oleander leaves. Mix the drained solution with 5 drops of coconut oil.
* Apply to the infected areas, 3 times a day.

6. Ketepeng China (Senna Alata, L) leaves.
* Crush 5 sheets of ketepeng china leaves.
* Rub them on the infected areas, twice a day.